Device for dispensing of a flavoring substance

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a device for the dispensing of a liquid-phase or emulsion-based flavoring substance throughout a of a food product.

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S.Provisional Application No. 60/781,290 filed Mar. 10, 2006, which ishereby incorporated by reference in its entirety

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Current equipment dispenses liquid flavorings in popcorn by drizzling ona container using a hand pump or an automatic dispenser at a specifiedrate.

In general, the apparatus dispenses a flavoring agent (typically coconutoil) on the top of the food product in a container, applying it only tothe top of the food product. Sometimes, the container is partly filledwith the food product before dispensing the flavoring, followed byaddition of more food product along with additional dispensing of theflavoring.

However, the current apparatus is used with the assumption that theflavoring will slowly seep from the top of the food product, e.g.,popcorn, through the container and flavor the popcorn below. This is notthe case. There is typically a layer that forms on the very top wherethe popcorn is soggy, below that, the popcorn is flavored well and inanother layer below that, the popcorn is unflavored. The top two layersare confined to about 1 inch of the top of each layer.

Uneven flavoring occurs even when producing multiple rounds of layeringfood and flavoring. Overall, the popcorn, or other food product, isunevenly flavored and the layers cause inconsistent taste andconsistency throughout the whole container of popcorn.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1: a. This shows an embodiment of holes every 10 degrees which isthe maximum requirement. b. This shows an embodiment of holes every 180degrees which is the minimum requirement.

FIG. 2: This shows X equals 0.1 to 2 inches and Y equal 3 to 36 inches.

FIG. 3: a. This shows a tip which can be used in a permanent device. Itwill be easier to penetrate the bulk food. b. This shows a disposabledevice in which the end is heat sealed, as shown by cross hatching.

FIG. 4: a. This shows a circular shaped hole which will be created onthe outer peripheral surface of the device. b. This shows an elongatedhole which will be created on the outer peripheral surface of thedevice.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to the device thatsubstantially obviates one or more of the problems described above andovercomes limitations and disadvantages of the related art.

An object of the present invention is to provide a device which allowsthe flavoring to be projected evenly throughout a container, therebycreating a more uniform and pleasurable taste and consistency.

To achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the presentinvention, there is provided a device having an intake passage adaptedto the apparatus for dispensing the flavoring, including: a tubular bodyhaving the intake passage formed therein; dispensing holes formed on theouter peripheral surface of the tubular body in such a manner as to beat least two thirds of the way up from the sealed end and adapted todispensing the flavoring by projecting it through the intake passage andout in multiple directions, the dispensing holes communicate the outsidewith the intake passage.

It may be preferable that the dispensing holes are formed in variousforms, or shapes, and may be of different sizes.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is alsoprovided a device having an intake passage for drawing a fluid liquidphase flavoring from a reservoir, including: a tubular body having theintake passage formed therein, the tubular body having a closed endportion; and at least two or more dispensing holes formed on the outerperipheral surface of the tubular body in such a manner as to beadjacent to the closed end portion of the tubular body, and adapted todispensing the fluid liquid phase flavoring drawn through the intakepassage and dispensed in multiple directions, the dispensing holestransmit the flavoring from the intake passage to the food product to beflavored.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda tubular body, which has an intake passage for drawing a fluid liquidphase or emulsion-based flavoring, including: a tubular body having theintake passage formed therein, the tubular body having a closed endportion; a corrugated part formed on the outer peripheral surface of thetubular body in such a manner as to be adjacent to the closed endportion; and at least two or more dispensing holes formed on thecorrugated part, and adapted to dispensing the fluid liquid phase oremulsion-based flavoring drawn through the intake passage in multipledirections, the dispensing holes transmit the flavoring from the intakepassage to the food product to be flavored.

The device comprising: a tubular body and having the input passageadapted to join with a pressurized flavoring delivery system; theopposite end being sealed. Additionally holes are placed in the tubularbody at predetermined distances; with the holes extending as little asone sixteenth of the way up to the whole device being perforated fromthe sealed end of the tubular body. The outer peripheral surface of thetubular body will contain the dispensing holes. The dispensing holeswill be placed in the tubular body in such a manner as to be evenlyspaced so as to dispense the flavoring substance equally throughout thefood product, and adapted to dispensing the fluid liquid-phase, oremulsion-based flavoring in multiple directions. The dispensing holesallow the fluid liquid-phase, or emulsion based flavoring to bedispensed and spread into the food substance and evenly dispersing saidflavoring.

This device can be used with most containers, cups, cones, paper bags,cardboard containers, plastic containers and metal containers. The tubecan range in size from 1/64 of an inch to 10 inches in diameter. Theholes range between 1/256 of an inch and 2 inches in diameter. The holeswill appear from every 10 degrees to 180 degrees around the tube. Thetube is anywhere from 1 inch to 12 feet in length. The tube could bemade of plastic, paper, cardboard, metal, glass, rubber, silicone,composites and other industrially suitable material.

The device of the invention can be used to achieve consistent flavoringfor ice cream, milkshakes, smoothies and malts as well as cereal, chips,nuts and other bulk foods.

A delivery means can include a manually operated pump, an electric pump,including a piston system designed to function as a manually drivensyringe.

EXAMPLES

-   -   1. 1/16 inch hole diameter, ⅛ inch tube diameter, 90 degree        rotation 2 holes every 0.5 inches. Weak Stream    -   Spray Pattern Diameter    -   Trial 1: 13.6 inches    -   Trial 2: 11.7 inches    -   Trail 3: 12.4 inches    -   2. Hole diameter decreases from ⅛ to 1/32 of an inch, ⅛ inch        tube diameter, 90 degree rotation 2 holes every inch. Weak        Stream    -   Spray Pattern Diameter    -   Trial :14.625 inches    -   Trial 2: 31.5 inches    -   Trail 3: 30.75 inches    -   3. 1/32 Hole diameter, ¼ inch tube diameter, 90 degree rotation,        2 holes every inch.    -   Medium Stream    -   Spray Pattern Diameter    -   Trial 1: 46.875 inches    -   Trial 2: 37.125 inches    -   Trial 3: 43.5 inches    -   4. 1/32 hole diameter, ⅛ inch tube diameter, 90 degree rotation,        2 holes every inch.    -   Strong Stream    -   Spray Pattern Diameter    -   Trial 1: 63.625 inches    -   Trial 2: 74.25 inches    -   Trial 3: 67.5 inches    -   5. Another embodiment involves the use of a device within the        specifications cited above but the delivery system would be        marketed with the device for a consumer application. The device        uses tubing corresponding to the specifications of one of the        above detailed descriptions.        -   a. One delivery system embodiment is a disposable prefilled            packet containing a flavoring that may be microwaved and            dispensed, especially a popcorn, or other bulk food            flavoring such as butter; however, the flavoring need not be            microwaved when regarding applications that do not require            heating, such as flavoring sauces, salad dressings, etc. A            dispensing tool may also be required to squeeze the            flavoring packet to create pressure and so spray the            flavoring into the food item. The tube can be attached by            the manufacturer or by the consumer either pre or post            microwaving.        -   b. Another delivery system embodiment is a disposable            bottle, it may be either single or multiuse, which has the            potential capacity to be microwaved a number of times. This            can be attached to the tube by the manufacturer or by the            consumer pre or post microwaving. The bottle is squeezed to            dispense the flavoring into the bulk food product.        -   c. An additional delivery system involves a durable tube and            syringe combination. This allows for the introduction of any            flavoring agent or foodstuff to the syringe. The plunger            depression will inject the flavoring agent into the            dispensing tube and produce a jet of flavoring from            dispensing holes of the detachable or undetachable tube.

1. A device for the dispensing a flavoring throughout a food product ina container, comprising an intake passage connected to a tubular body,wherein the tubular body comprises a connection to the intake passage, amultiplicity of holes in the walls of the tubular body and a sealed end,wherein the tubular body is capable of dispensing the flavoring bymovement of the flavoring through the intake passage, through thetubular body and out of the holes.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein thefood product is popcorn or any other bulk food product
 3. The device ofclaim 1, wherein the flavoring substance is butter or any otherflavoring agent
 4. A method of flavoring a food product using the deviceof claim
 1. 5. A delivery system comprising the device of claim 1 and acontainer of the flavoring.
 6. The delivery system of claim 5, whereinthe container is a disposable bottle.
 7. The delivery system of claim 5,further comprising a delivery means.